Articulative sound-producing device



Au 31, 1926. 1,s9s,r95

L. J. GRUBMAN ARTI CULATIVE SGUND PRODUCING DEVICE Original Filed March 11. 1922 iii/1 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

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LEO J. GRUBMAN, 6F IJE'W YORK, N. 'Y., VOICES, INCORPORATED, 0F 'IIEWAl-tlif,

XV'ARE.

Original application filed March 11, 1922, Serial No. 5 ,22,884.

ber 26, was.

This invention relates to articulative sound producing devices and constitutes a division of my pending application for patent filed March 11, 1922, Serial No. 542,884.

I; In my original application, I have disclosed an articulative sound producing device for dolls and other toys wherein the operative parts of the mechanism are entirely enclosed within a housing or casing, said mechanism including a suitable sound producing reed and a bellows for expelling air therethrough having a gravity movable head together with a fixed axially positioned post extending between the ends of the housing or casing for supporting and guiding said bellows head. This general combination of elements is broadly claimed in said pending application. In my present divisional application I claim only a specific em- 29 bodiment of the original disclosure, the primary object being to provide an axially extending guide for the movable bellows head of tubular form through which the air is expelled and within which the sound produc ing reed is suitably mounted so that said guide in addition to its function as a sup porting and guiding means for the bellows head, serves also as a sound receiving chainber from which the sound is emitted at a point adjacent the emission apertures in one end wall of the casing in uniform volume.

It is also an object of my present invention to provide a simplified and improved mounting for the tubular guide and sound receiving chamber between the opposite ends of the casing or housing so as to enable the several parts to be expeditiously assembled in operative relation with each other.

WVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved articulat-ive sound producing device and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the ac companying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved articulative sound producing device and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the acwearer;-

ARTZCU'LATIVE $UND-PRODUCING DEVECE.

Divided and this application filed Decem- Serial No. 682,875.

companying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of my present improvements and in which similar reference characters designate correspond-- ing parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section illustrating one practical embodimentof the invention and showing the bellows collapsed;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the device inreversed position and the bellows expanded;

Figure 3 is a detail elevation of the tubular guide post and sound receiving chamber;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the weight member on the movable bellows head; and

Figure 5 is a detail plan view of the fixed head disc of the bellows detached from the end plate or cap of the casing.

The several operative parts of the sound producing and emitting meehanisnr are wholly contained and enclosed within av shell or casing 5. is herein shown this casing is of cylindrical form and the body wall thereof may consist of heavy cardboard or other suitable material. The opposite end of this casingare closed by means of the end caps or plates 6 and 7 respectively each of whirh has a marginal annular flange for frictional engagement with the body wall of the casing.

The end cap 6 of the casing is provided with a plurality of suitably arranged sound emission apertures 8 and centrally thereof the wall oi the cap is formed with a circular depression or indentation 9 the pur pose of which will presently appear.

Upon the inner side of the other closure cap 7 for the casing a disc 10' of cardboard or other suitable material is positioned, and

this disc closes one end of a bellows chamber, I

fixed. T his weight has an axially extending bore or opening 14 and a sound emission slot or opening 15 extends transversely through one side of said weight and communicates at its inner end with the bore 14. This inner end of the opening 15 has its longer dimension extending circumferentially of thebore 14 and is of rectangular form as clearly seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, and which feature of my construction is of primary importance in producing a clear and realistic enunciationof the simulated wordrsyllables, as will more clearly.

appear from the following. description. 7

The movable bellows head 12 with its weight 13 issupported and guided in its gravity movement within the casing by a tubular post 16. In this particular embodiment of myinvention, said post bears a fixed relation to-the walls of the casing 5, and as herein shown, I preferably provide-said tube atone off its open ends and at diametrically opposite points with longitudinally projecting lugs or extensions 17. To the end head or disc 0f the bellows there is centrally secured a relatively small disc of cardboard or wood 18, which is provided in its edgevat diametrically opposite points with the rectangular notches or recesses 19 of such dimensionsthat the lugs 17 will closely fit therein. Thus it will be understood that these lugs and th disc 18 effectively prevent a turning or re .tative movement of the tube 16'and also "the end cap 6 of the casing'is applied, the

ti htl 7 hold the disc 10 a ainst the closure z: 5 c a I. From reierence to Figure 101 the drawing it will be noted that the lugs 17 are otsurh length relative to the thicl'ness of the disc 18 that the end edges of the tube wall, between said lugs are spaced from the surface of said disc, thus affording openings or passages 20 through which air may freely enter into the bellows chamber or be expelled therefrom into the tube 16.

The tube 16 has aclose sliding fit'within the bore 14 of the weight 13, while permitting of the free gravity slit ing movement of" said weight and the bellows head. \Vhen central protuberance formed by the depression 9 in the cap wall fits within the other open end of said tube as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. Thus it will be apparent that the tube is securely held in fixed relation to the casino and the movable bellows head against either rotative movementor lateral or axial displacement with respect thereto, and'at the same time the fixed bend or disc 10 of the bellows is frictionally clamped in concentric relation to the casing against the inner face of the 61K cap 7.

Within the tubular post 16 and adjacent to the. openings 20, a sound producing reed 21 of any approved type is suitably mounted.

As herein disclosed, I mount this disc in a plug 22 of cork or other compressible mato be observed that this slot likewise is of rectangular form.

In the operation of the device as above described, when the casing with the en-' closed mechanism is substantially inverted from the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings," the bellows head 12 and the weight 13 move by gravity upon the wall ofthe tube 16 so that the airis expelled from the interior ofthe bellows through the openings or passages 20 and the reed 21, thus producing sound. The interiorof the tube 16 constitutes a receiving and collecting chamber for the sound waves, and as the rectangular inner end of the opening 15 in the weight 13passes the rectangular opening 28 in the wall of said tube, sound is emitted therefrom and through the apertures 8 in the end cap'of the casing in exact volume for a predetermined length of time, depending of course upon the width or the inner end of'the opening 15. Initially, or before the opening 15 comes into approximately full registration with the opening 23 in the tube wall the first emission of Hlfl sound throughthe orifice '23" inthe tube wall simulates. the letter m .which is immediately followed by the letter a, thus producing a simulation of the word'syllable r ma. During the passage'of the solid por- .tion of the'head 13 at one sideo fthe opening 15 past'the slot inthe tube wall," the letter, in will again besounded and when the weight 13 moves entirely beyond or below said slot 23 there will be a prolonged.

sounding of the final letter a thus completing the second syllable ma,

realisticallysimulated. I have found that a distinctand clear enunciationof the two syllables is primarily dependentupon the form or shape of the openings 15 and 23,

and that it is essential that the emission of sound shall be initiated at all points along theedgeof the slot or opening 23 as the edge of the, Opening. 15 passes the same at exactly the same instant. If there is a gradual ncrease n the volume'of sound emitted, I the letter 1n isnot-sharply and distinctly sounded, but the audible impression of the emitted sound is more l1ke wa-wa. It will beunderstood that it is not essential the drawings, the essential consideration be- In this manner the infant or ma-ma will be,

ing the relationship of the first meeting edges of these openings in the air expelling movement of the head; 12. In other words, these meeting edges are in parallel relation with each other so that in the initial partial. registration of said openings there is a uniform area. through which the sound is emitted from the interior of the tube 16. Accordingly, the sounding oi": the letter a immediately following the letter 1n occurs instantaneously or abruptly and there is no merging of the sounding of one letter into the other which would produce the audible ei'lect above referred to.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the novel subject matter of my present application will be clearly understood. Thus three essential features of the structure above described are herein claimed, namely, the sound receiving chamber in the form of a tube which guides the air expelling member in its, movement, the manner of mounting and assembling this tube with relation to the bellows and the ends of the casing, and the specific form of the coacting sound emission control openings in the weight 13 and the wall of said tube. It may here again be noted that no claim is made in this application to the general or broad combination of an air expelling bellows having a gravity movable head and the fixed axially extending guide and support for said head within the casing, since such claims are embodied in my original appli cation above identified. Nevertheless, it will be manifest that the features of construction hereinemphasized might be exemplified in other structural forms than that which I have selected for the purposes of illustration, and accordingly, it is to be understood that inpractice the privilege is reserved of adopting all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

1 claim:

1.. In a sound producing device, an air chamber, slidably engaged members one of which is lined and the other movable to expel air from said chamber in its movement in one direction, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled from said chamber, one of said members being of tubular form and. constituting a soundreceiving chamber, and said members having coacting sound emission ports governing the emission of sound from said chamber.

2. In a sound producing device, an air chamber having a flexible wall fixed at one of its ends, slidably engaged members one of which is fixed to the other end of said flexible wall for movement with relation, to

the other member, a sound producing reed:

through which air is expelled from said chamber in the movement or" the latter mem her in one direction, one of said members being of tubular form and constituting a sound receiving chamber, and said members having coacting sound emission ports governing the emission of sound from said chamber.

3. In a sound producing device, a bellows having a movable head, a sound producing reed through which air is expelled from the bellows chamber in the movement of said head in one direction, a guide member for said head having a rectangular sound emission opening therethrough, and a part carried by said bellows head slidingly engaged upon said guide and provided with a rectangular opening therethrough to coact with the opening in the guide member and govern the emission of the sound through said: opening.

l. In a sound producing device, an air chamber and a movable member expelling air from said cl'iamber in its movement in one direction, a sound producing reed through which the air is expelled, a rela tively stationary member, a part carried by said movable member slidably engaged with said stationary member, said part and the eating at, one of its ends with the bellowschamber, a sound producing reed mounted within said member, said member constituting a sound receiving chamber, and means controlled bysaid bellows head in: its move ment in. one direction to govern the emission oat the sound. from said chamber.

6. In a sound producing device, a casing, a bellows within said casing having a movable head, a tubular member supported be tween the ends of the casing and communi cating at one or its ends with the bellows chamber, a sound producing reed mounted within said. member, said member constituting a sound receiving chamber and having a sound emission. opening in. the wall thereol adjacent to its opposite end, and means carried by the movable bellows head to coact with said opening and governing the emission of sound from said chamber.

7. In a sound producing device, a casing, a bellows within said casing having a movable head, a tubular member supported between the ends of the casing and communicating atone of its ends with the bellows reed chamber, a sound producing reed mounted within said member, said member constituting a sound receiving chamber and having a sound emission opening in the wall thereof adjacent to its opposite end, and a weight fixed to said bellows head and mounted upon said tubular cmember for sliding gravity movement adapted to coact with said emission opening in the movement of the head in one direction and governing the emission of sound from said chamber.

8. In a sound producing device, a casing, a bellows within said casing having a movable head, an axially positioned tubular guiding member for said movable bellows head mounted between the ends of said casing, said tubular member at one of its ends communicating with the bellows chamber, a sound producing reed through which the air is expelled from said chamber, said tubular guiding member constituting a sound receiving chamber and being provided in the wall thereof with a sound emission opening, and means carried by the bellows head to coact with said opening in the movement of said head in one direction to govern the emission of sound from said chamber.

9. In a sound producing device, a casi a bellows enclosed within said casing having a weighted gravity movable head, axially positioned tubular member supported upon the casing ends, a sounding reed in communication vith the interior of the tubular member and through which the air is expelled from said bellows chamber in the movement of said head in one direction, said tubular member constituting a supporting guide for said bellows head and a sound receiving chamber, and said movable bellows head and the'wall of said tubular member having coact-ing means governing the emission of sound from said chamber in the movement 01 the bellowshead in one direction.

10. In a sound producing device, a bellows having a movable head, a sound producing ber.

11. In a sound producingdevice, a casing,

having an air chamber therein, a gravity movable air expelling member, a tubular member supported upon the casing ends and constituting a guide for said air expelling member, a sound producing reed through through which air is expelled from the which'air is expelled from said chamber in the gravity movement of said expelling memher in one direction, said reed communicating with the interior of said tubular gu1de and said guide constituting a sound receiving chamber, the wall of said guide having a sound emission opening therethrough, and means carried by said air expelling member to coact with said opening and govern the emission of sound from said receiving chamber.

12. In a sound producing device, a casing having an air chamber therein, agravity movable air expelling member, a tubular member supported upon the casing ends and constituting a guide for said air expelling memher, a sound producing reed through which air is expelled from said chamber in the gravity movement of said expelling member in one direction, said reed communicating with the interior of said tubular guide and said guide constituting a sound receiving chamber, the wall of said tubular member having a circumferentially extending recular emission opening through the wall cot, and said air expelling member carg a weight provided with a rectangular opening therethrough adapted to coact with said opening in the wall of the tubular member to govern the emission of sound from said receiving chamber.

13. In a sound producing device, a casing, a bellows contained within said casing having a gravity movable head, an axially positioned tubular guide for. said head, a closure for each end of the casing, means on one of said closures engaged by means on one end or" saidtubular guide to prevent rotative movement of the guide, the other closure being centrally provided with means projecting into the other end of the tubular guide to hold the latter against displacement, a sound producing reed communicating with the interior of said tubular member and with the bellows chamber, saidtubular member constituting a sound receiving chamber, and said bellows head and the wall of the tubular guidehaving coacting means governing the emission of sound from said chamber in the gravity movement of the bellows head in one direction.

14. In a sound producing device, a casing havm an air chamber therein and a rant movable member for expelling air "from said ing to expel air from said chamber through said reed, a tubular guide for said air expelling member, said guide and the member having coacting sound emission controlling means, and closures for the opposite ends of said casing each having means coacting with the respective ends of said guide to retain the latter in fixed coaxial relation to said casing, said means on one of the closures consisting of a centrally projecting boss engaged by one end edge of said tubular guide whereby said end of the guide is held against lateral displacement from its assembled position.

16. In a sound producing device, an air chamber, a post extending through said air chamber and provided with sound emission means, an air expelling member in said chamber having an opening therein through which said post extends and said opening receiving the sound emission means of said post in the longitudinal sliding movement of the member along said post, a sounding reed through which the air is expelled, and

said member having means coacting with said sound emission means to effect an articulated emission of the sound in the movement oi the air expelling member in one direction.

17. in a sound producing device, a bellows having a movable head, a sounding reed through which air is expelled from the chamher in the movement or said head in one direction, a stationary post extending through the bellows chamber and the movable head thereof and upon which said bellows head is slidably supported and guided, said post being provided in a part of its structure with sound emitting passages over which said bellows head has free sliding movement, said bellows head being provided with means coacting with said sound emitting passages of the post to etiect an articulated emission of the sound in the air expelling movement of the bellows'head in one direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

LEO J. GRUBh IAN. 

